Boat insurance in Wisconsin
Wisconsin doesn't require boat insurance, but one bad afternoon on the water can leave you paying for a damaged boat or someone's injuries.
- Does Wisconsin law require boat insurance?
- NoLenders and marinas can still ask for it
- A $25,000 pontoon here
- $250 to $590 a yearLow-cost state in Progressive's averages
- Registered boats, 2024
- 602,849U.S. Coast Guard count
- Boater education
- Born on or after Jan 1, 1989Wisconsin requires boating safety certification, or an equivalent from another state, for any operator whose birth date is January 1, 1989 or later.
Sources: dnr.wisconsin.gov, docs.legis.wisconsin.gov; U.S. Coast Guard 2024 boating statistics; Progressive state averages.
Want a firm price for a boat kept in Wisconsin? Send a quote request or call +1 (833) 721-5475.
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What kind of boat?
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What you paid, or what boats like it sell for. A rough figure is fine.
Type the value in dollars, between $500 and $5,000,000.
An estimate, not a quote. How we work it out
The line reaches Boat Insurance Compare. Have the boat, its value and your state ready.
Rather have it in writing? Send a quote request with the answers you just gave.
Here, a pontoon valued at $25,000 generally runs $250 to $590 per year. Call now to talk through what protecting your boat could cost.
Why a policy is worth a look
More than 15,074 lakes sit in Wisconsin, spread across over 1 million acres, and the state counted 602,849 registered recreational boats during 2024. That same year brought 104 reported boating accidents, which left 14 people dead, 73 hurt, and $1,206,464 in damaged property, per the U.S. Coast Guard.
Insurance helps pay for damage to your boat or to other people's property so you don't face the whole bill on your own. Call us to talk through what coverage could cost for your boat, what it's worth and where you keep it.
Does Wisconsin require boat insurance?
No. When asked whether boaters here must carry liability coverage, the Coast Guard's state boating law survey answers "No."
That said, other rules still apply to owners and operators:
- Registration: If your boat has a motor, even an electric trolling motor, or it is a sailboat longer than 12 feet, you must register it through the state's Department of Natural Resources (DNR). Each registration is good for three years.
- Title: Motorized boats and sailboats at least 16 feet long need either a state certificate of title or documentation from the US Coast Guard.
- Boating safety certificate: If you were born on or after January 1, 1989, you need a Wisconsin boating safety certificate (or one from another state) to operate a boat.
- Age limits: Children under 10 cannot drive a motorboat. Kids aged 10 and 11 can, but only if a certified parent, guardian, or designated adult is on board.
- Personal watercraft: Children under 12 cannot drive one. Those aged 12 to 15 need a boating safety certificate that is current.
- Alcohol: Operating a motorboat with an alcohol concentration of 0.08 or higher is against the law. Operators under 21 may not have an alcohol concentration above 0.0.
- Invasive species: Drain every bit of water from your boat and gear before leaving state waters or bringing the boat into Wisconsin by land.
Insurance is your choice in Wisconsin, so call us today to talk through what coverage could cost for your boat.
How much does boat insurance cost in Wisconsin?
Progressive places Wisconsin in its low-cost group of states. That group's average yearly Progressive boat policy came to $307 in 2024 to 2025, based on Progressive. The figures in our table are estimates, not quotes, and what you pay hinges on your boat.
| Type of boat | What it is worth | Rough yearly cost |
|---|---|---|
| Pontoon boat | $25,000 | $250 to $590 |
| Personal watercraft (jet ski) | $14,000 | $140 to $370 |
| Sailboat | $45,000 | $450 to $1,110 |
| Fishing or bass boat | $40,000 | $400 to $600 |
| Wake, ski, or bowrider boat | $50,000 | $500 to $750 |
| Yacht or cruiser | $150,000 | $1,500 to $3,000 |
Our home page walks you through three quick steps to get a range for your boat, and the method is explained here. The range is not a quote, so call us to talk through it.
Expenses outside the policy
Registration stands apart from insurance and varies by length. Motorized boats under 16 feet run $22, while boats 16 to under 26 feet run $32. Boats 26 to under 40 feet run $60, and boats 40 feet and over run $100, per the DNR fee list.
On top of that, nonexempt boat sales come with a 5% state sales tax and any county tax. Since 2024, boats kept in the City of Milwaukee also pay a 2% city tax.
Questions we hear often
Is insurance required for a boat in Wisconsin?
No law says you must carry it. Boats are registered and titled through the Wisconsin DNR, but that is separate from insurance.
What would coverage cost on a $10,000 or $20,000 boat?
A $14,000 jet ski runs about $140 to $370 a year, and a $25,000 pontoon about $250 to $590. Share your boat's details and we will work out a range for you.
Which company offers the lowest boat insurance rates in Wisconsin?
Rates shift with the boat, its value, and its storage spot, so the lowest-priced company varies from one owner to the next. Call us to talk through the options for your boat.
What about Progressive or GEICO boat insurance?
Wisconsin is in Progressive's low-cost group of states, where its average boat policy cost about $307 a year in 2024 to 2025. GEICO writes boats through BoatUS, so one call can price both on the same boat, value and state.
How should I understand "full coverage" boat insurance?
"Full coverage" means different things to different people. Call us, tell us what you want protected, and we'll talk through what that could cost for your boat.
Boat insurers to compare in Wisconsin
| Insurer | Policy issued by | Payout after a loss | Towing on the water |
|---|---|---|---|
 Progressive | Progressive | Partial losses paid at full replacement cost with comprehensive and collision | Sign & Glide on-water towing, optional |
 BoatUS | GEICO Marine | Agreed hull value (except PWC) or actual cash value | TowBoatUS add-on starting at $3 a month |
 GEICO | GEICO Marine Insurance Company | Choice of agreed hull value or actual cash value | Add-on through BoatUS, 24/7 |
 State Farm | State Farm Fire and Casualty | Total loss paid at agreed value; repairs at replacement cost | Emergency service covered |
 Allstate | Allstate | Agreed value available | Emergency services covered up to $100 |
 Markel | Markel American | Agreed value; actual cash value available on yachts | Emergency towing offered |
What each insurer publishes about its own policy; each confirms on the quote that it writes your boat in Wisconsin. All insurers side by side
Wisconsin boating rules an insurer will ask about
| Topic | The rule in Wisconsin | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Boater education | Wisconsin requires boating safety certification, or an equivalent from another state, for any operator whose birth date is January 1, 1989 or later. Children younger than 10 cannot operate a motorboat; ages 10-11 may operate one only with a certified parent, a certified guardian, or a certified designated adult aboard. | dnr.wisconsin.gov, docs.legis.wisconsin.gov |
| Jet ski age | Anyone younger than 12 cannot drive a personal watercraft; boaters ages 12-15 must hold a boating safety certificate that is valid. | docs.legis.wisconsin.gov |
| Registration | Owners must register every motorized boat, including one with an electric trolling motor, and every sailboat over 12 feet with the Wisconsin DNR; each registration lasts 3 years. Length sets Wisconsin DNR registration fees: $22 covers a motorized boat under 16 ft, while $32 covers one in the 16 ft to under 26 ft range. A motorized boat at 26 feet or more but under 40 feet costs $60 to register; a boat 40 feet and over costs $100. | dnr.wisconsin.gov |
| Title | In Wisconsin, a motorized boat or sailboat that is 16 feet or longer needs a Wisconsin certificate of title, and USCG documentation also qualifies. The titling rule dates from February 1, 1989. | dnr.wisconsin.gov |
| Boating under the influence | The law bars operating a motorboat at a blood alcohol level at or above 0.08; the limit is 0.04 for commercial motorboats, and under-21 operators cannot exceed 0.0. | docs.legis.wisconsin.gov |
| Who runs boating | The Wisconsin DNR registers and titles boats. | oci.wi.gov |
| Also in this state | Nonexempt boat sales carry state sales tax at 5%, plus county tax; since 2024, the City of Milwaukee adds a 2% tax where the boat stays. Aquatic invasive species law makes boaters drain all water out of boats and equipment when they leave state waters or cross into Wisconsin by land. Wisconsin counts over 15,074 lakes; together they top 1 million acres. | dnr.wisconsin.gov, oci.wi.gov |
| Accidents reported, 2024 | 104 boating accidents, 14 deaths and 73 people injured, with $1,206,464 of reported damage. | uscgboating.org |
How Wisconsin compares with every other state: the boat insurance law table.
Quotes for a boat kept in Wisconsin
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